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;[[:Category:Megaceryle|Megaceryle]] maxima | ;[[:Category:Megaceryle|Megaceryle]] maxima | ||
| − | [[Image:Giant_Kingfisher.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|nigelblake|nigelblake}} <br/> Abuko, [[Gambia]]]] | + | [[Image:Giant_Kingfisher.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|nigelblake|nigelblake}} <br/> Abuko, [[Gambia]], December 2002]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
42 - 48 cm and up to 375 g (female) this is an impressively large Kingfisher.<br /> | 42 - 48 cm and up to 375 g (female) this is an impressively large Kingfisher.<br /> | ||
| − | It has a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts. The '''male''' has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, while the '''female''' has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly. | + | It has a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts.<br /> |
| + | The '''male''' has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, while the '''female''' has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Giant kingfisherfemale3.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by {{user|Scottishdude|Scottishdude}}<br/> [[Gambia]] March, 2010]] | |
| − | [[Image:Giant kingfisherfemale3.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by {{user|Scottishdude|Scottishdude}}<br/> [[Gambia]] March, | ||
Widespread throughout sub-Saharan [[Africa]]:<br /> | Widespread throughout sub-Saharan [[Africa]]:<br /> | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
'''African Islands''': Gulf of Guinea Islands: [[Bioko]] (Fernando Po) | '''African Islands''': Gulf of Guinea Islands: [[Bioko]] (Fernando Po) | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| + | There are 2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''M. m. maximus'': | *''M. m. maximus'': | ||
:*[[Senegambia]] to [[Ethiopia]] and [[South Africa]] | :*[[Senegambia]] to [[Ethiopia]] and [[South Africa]] | ||
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It is shy and unobtrusive and therefore can be difficult to see. | It is shy and unobtrusive and therefore can be difficult to see. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | The diet consists of crabs, fish, and frogs. They dive from a perch, often immersing completely. The prey is then taken to the perch and vigorously beaten against solid | + | The diet consists of crabs, fish, and frogs. They dive from a perch, often immersing completely. The prey is then taken to the perch and vigorously beaten against solid object until dead. |
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
Monogamous, solitary nester. Breeding is from August to January in a hole excavated into sandbanks. Three to five oval, white and glossy eggs are laid into these riverbank tunnels. | Monogamous, solitary nester. Breeding is from August to January in a hole excavated into sandbanks. Three to five oval, white and glossy eggs are laid into these riverbank tunnels. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 32: | ||
The call is a loud ''wak wak wak''. | The call is a loud ''wak wak wak''. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#Avibase |
#Wikipedia | #Wikipedia | ||
#Absolute Astronomy | #Absolute Astronomy | ||
Revision as of 21:05, 5 April 2014
- Megaceryle maxima
Identification
42 - 48 cm and up to 375 g (female) this is an impressively large Kingfisher.
It has a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts.
The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, while the female has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly.
Distribution
Widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa:
Western Africa: Mauritania, Senegambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Swaziland
African Islands: Gulf of Guinea Islands: Bioko (Fernando Po)
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]:
- M. m. maximus:
- Senegambia to Ethiopia and South Africa
- M. m. giganteus:
Habitat
Almost any water body with sufficient food and overhanging branches, from which to hunt, including streams, rivers, estuaries, seashores and sewage ponds. Common along water furrows in villages in the South Karoo and at irrigation schemes.
Behaviour
It is shy and unobtrusive and therefore can be difficult to see.
Diet
The diet consists of crabs, fish, and frogs. They dive from a perch, often immersing completely. The prey is then taken to the perch and vigorously beaten against solid object until dead.
Breeding
Monogamous, solitary nester. Breeding is from August to January in a hole excavated into sandbanks. Three to five oval, white and glossy eggs are laid into these riverbank tunnels.
Vocalisation
The call is a loud wak wak wak.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
- Absolute Astronomy
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Giant Kingfisher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Giant_Kingfisher
